Joseph e



(No Model.)

J. R. FRANCE.

ROLLER SKATE WHEEL.

No. 328,476. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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UNITED STATES JOSEPH FRANCE, OF NEWARK, NEIV JERSEY.

ROLLER-SKA TE WHEEL.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,476, dated October20, 1885.

Application filed November 6, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn R. FRANCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented new anduseful Improvements in RollingSupports for Parlor-Skates, of which thefollow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in what are known asparlor-skates-that is, a skate mounted on rollers or wheels adapted totraverse a floor, pavement, or other surface to imitate skating on ice.

The object of my invention is to improve the rolling supports of suchskates, whereby they are rendered more durable, and are furnished with asmoother bearing-surface than ordinary wooden or metallic rollers orwheels, and whereby an unyielding or inelastic surface is provided,which will not be affected by moisture, nor be liable to chip off or beeasily marred or injured when subjected to the uses for whichroller-skates are designed.

My invention consists in a rolling support for roller-skates,constructed as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, in which- Figure1 is a side elevation of a parlor-skate having its rolling supportsconstructed in ac cordance with my invention; Fig. 2,a detachedperspective view of a skate roller or wheel made in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 3, a central sectional view of the same; Fig. 4,acentral sectional view of a roller or wheel, showing a modification ofthe invention; Fig. 5,asimilar View showing another modification, andFig. 6 a similar view of another modification.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, reference being madeto the drawings, where the number 1 indicates the usual footstock of aparlor-skate, which will be provided with suitable devices forconnecting it with the foot, such, for instance, as straps or adjustableclamps. The

rolling skate-supports, in the form of diskwheels, are journaled insuitable brackets or wheel-carrying frames,as ordinarily practiced inthis class ofskates.

The wheel is composed of a body, 2, having a tire or rim, 3, of plasticmaterial, having a Serial No. 147,285. (No model.)

pyroxiline base. This material while in a plastic condition, is appliedaround the periphery compound around the disk-body within suitabledies,andthen by pressure and heat molding the composition about saidbody to constitute a tire or rim, and a bearing-surface which is tough,durable, smooth, and not affected by moisture, and which is not liableto Wear unevenly or chip or break, as do rollers of ordinaryconstruction.

WVhile this method of manufacturing the rolling skate-support ispractical and satisfactory, I do not confine myself thereto, as variousother methods of manufacture will suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art.

The disk-body of the wheel is preferably of wood, but other material maybe usedsuch as metaland the center of the disk is provided with aperforation, 4, to receive the axle or spindle on which the wheelrevolves. The thickness of the plastic tire or rim may vary according tothe conditions required or as the judgment of the manufacturer dictates;but a tire or rim of about one-quarter (t) of an inch in thickness willgive good results.

The tire or rim of plastic composition may be applied to a disk having aperfectly flat and smooth periphery, as in Fig. 3; but, preferably, theconstruction is such that the composition will constituteatire thatinterlocks with the periphery of the disk-body. This interlock may beeffected in any suitable manner. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, wherethe periphery of the disk-body is provided with an annular groove intowhich the composition enters during the process of manufacture, thegroove forming annular flanges 5,which effectually prevent lateraldisplacement of the tire or rim. As shown in Fig. 5, the periphery ofthe disk-body may be furnished with a series of annular grooves toreceive the composition.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the disk-body entirely covered with thepyroxiline compound, whereby all parts of the body are protected againstmoisture and other atmospheric influences, and a neat, durable, andhandsome skateroller provided.

Ordinary skate rollers or wheels of wood soon wear uneven on theirperipheries, and

also chip or break, and,besides, are affectedin juriously b'y moisture,so that they break or split; but a wooden skate-wheel furnished with arim or tire of plastic composition composed of pyroxiline or itscompounds provides a bearing-surface which is exceedingly hard andunyielding or inelastic, is very smooth,and is not liable to chip of orbreak, while it is not injuriously affected by moisture. A metallicskate-wheel is objectionable owing to the noise it creates,and becauseits periphery bybecoming rusty unfits it for use on well-preservedskating-floors; but a metal diskhaving atire of the characterhereinbefore described is not open to such objections. I g

A tire or rim of plastic material having a pyroxiline base provides arolling support for skates which is'sup'erior and more desirable in manyrespects to wooden wheels with rubber tires. The rubber tire is soft,and hence produces such undue friction that itis difficult, if notimpossible, to rapidly traverse a floor or other surface; but the tireor rim of plastic material provides a hard'and unyielding or inelasticbearing-surface, which can be highly polished and smoothed, therebyenabling great speed to be attained with comparatively little effort. p

In the manufacture of the rolling supports, the disk-body constitutes acore about which the tire or rim or the covering is cast in the dies ormolds.

Instead of using wood or metal for the core of the disk-body, I mayconstruct it from a plastic composition and then apply the tire or rimin the manner described. I may also construct the rolling support withspokes joined to a hub and to a felly, the tire or rim being castaboutthe felly. v

I am aware that skate-rollers have been made entirely of vulcanizedindia-rubber, and such I disclaim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A rollingsupport for skates, consisting of a body or core, 2, and a separate tireof plastic, material having a pyroxiline base and molded on the body orcore, substantially as described. l

2, A rolling support for skates, consisting of a body or core having anan'nularly-grooved periphery anda bearing-surface of plastic ma terial,having a pyroxiline base, forming an unyielding or inelastic tire to thebody or core, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH R. FRANCE.

Witnesses:

CHRISTIAN A. HOPMANN, WILLIAM A. WARD.

